Windows only: Launch apps, search the web, open files and more with keystroke launcher KeyBreeze.

Like Lifehacker favorite Launchy, KeyBreeze is a pop-up launcher operated entirely by keystrokes. Just tap the semi-colon key (or any other key you define), then start typing the name of a program, document, folder or bookmark. KeyBreeze lets you run command-line web searches as well: type s:amy winehouse to do a web search, w:amy winehouse for Wikipedia, and so on. The program also supports macros, notes, skins and even computer commands like shutdown.

My only complaint with KeyBreeze is that it doesn't automatically index everything on your hard drive like Launchy does. Instead, it relies on keywords—links to specific programs, files, folders, etc. The program generates them for most of your installed apps, but you'll have to manually add them (usually a three-click process) for documents, bookmarks and the like.

That may be a deal-breaker for some, but KeyBreeze definitely edges Launchy in the features department. If you like the simplicity of keystroke launchers (and, believe me, once you try one it's hard to go back to icons), you should definitely give this one a try. KeyBreeze is free; it works wherever Windows does. —Rick Broida